# Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

> Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-lapping-polishing-and-buffing-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal
- SOC code: 51-4033.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $46,550 (10th percentile $36,110, 90th percentile $62,600)
- Projected growth: Decline, -10.8%
- Openings a year: 4,500
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 19 |
| Artistic (A) | 3 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 49 |

## What you'd do

- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 81/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 78/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 77/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 75/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 75/100)
- Getting Information (importance 74/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 66/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 65/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 64/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 64/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Troubleshooting, Active Listening

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Mechanical, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology, Administration and Management, English Language, Education and Training, Design, Computers and Electronics, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

Automatic Grinder Operator, Bench Grinder, Billet Grinder, Bit Grinder, Blade Grinder, Brass Buffer, Buffer, Bufferer, Buffing Line Set Up Worker, Buffing Machine Operator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Precision Metal Working](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4805) (CIP 4805, 746 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Ferris State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ferris-state-university-949) | Precision Metal Working | not reported | $86,941 | $12,000 |
| [Del Mar College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/del-mar-college-782) | Precision Metal Working | $41,304 | $79,303 | not reported |
| [Hennepin Technical College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/hennepin-technical-college-1182) | Precision Metal Working | $68,632 | $76,020 | $11,033 |
| [Des Moines Area Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/des-moines-area-community-college-797) | Precision Metal Working | $65,355 | $75,145 | not reported |
| [Ivy Tech Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ivy-tech-community-college-1314) | Precision Metal Working | $69,427 | $75,002 | $5,900 |
| [Dunwoody College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dunwoody-college-of-technology-838) | Precision Metal Working | $60,388 | $70,886 | $12,000 |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Precision Metal Working | $63,054 | $70,298 | $19,500 |
| [Austin Community College District](https://www.collegesref.com/college/austin-community-college-district-152) | Precision Metal Working | $46,036 | $69,185 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tool-grinders-filers-and-sharpeners): $50,060 median pay
- [Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-and-polishing-workers-hand): $42,660 median pay
- [Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/woodworking-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-except-sawing): $43,380 median pay
- [Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/milling-and-planing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $52,800 median pay
- [Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cutting-and-slicing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $46,570 median pay
- [Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/lathe-and-turning-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $50,620 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.